CHARGERS: Tomlinson puts injury, criticism behind him

A few days after the game, Chargers team president Dean Spanos
had a few quick words for Tomlinson: "Don't worry about anything.
Everybody knows the type of person you are, and nobody is ever
second-guessing you in this organization."

The conversation was short in nature because Spanos didn't think
the situation merited a lengthy chat.

"I don't think anybody on this team would ever second-guess his
dedication and loyalty to this organization or his work ethic,"
Spanos said Saturday afternoon as Tomlinson practiced 50 yards
away.

"The guy was hurt. He was really hurt and couldn't play. He
tried and he just couldn't do it. I don't know what more you could
have expected from anybody.

"He's really the backbone of this franchise, and I think
everybody looks up to him. He's the heart and soul of this
team."

Period of uncertainty

Flash back to the week of the AFC title game and you'll find a
period filled with adversity and unknown player availability. While
a large chunk of the national focus was on New England's attempt to
maintain its perfect record, the storylines regarding the Chargers
focused on their injuries, mainly whether quarterback Philip Rivers
(knee) or tight end Antonio Gates (toe) would be able to play.

Meanwhile, Tomlinson's injury against Indianapolis was first
reported by the team to be a hyperextended left knee.

So when the Chargers arrived in the Boston area, Tomlinson was
viewed as being much healthier than either Rivers or Gates. The
team had even removed him from the injury report two days prior to
the game. But after two carries and one reception in the opening
minutes of the game, Tomlinson had aggravated the injury and his
day was done.

It wasn't until after the game that Tomlinson revealed to the
assembled reporters around his locker that his injury was a more
severe sprained medial collateral ligament.

"It really was a valiant effort for him to be hurt like he was
in Indy and then try to play," said coach Norv Turner, "because it
was obviously hurt more than anyone thought."

In essence, it could be construed that the way the Chargers
handled the release of information regarding Tomlinson's injury
contributed to the level of criticism Tomlinson endured.

"First of all, the guy deserves the benefit of the doubt,"
Turner said. "Second of all, we're trying to win a football game. I
know there's a lot of people who look back and say 'Why didn't you
do this? Why didn't you do that?' We're sitting there on the
sideline and we're trying to win a football game. That's why it
unfolded the way it did."

Said Smith: "We just did everything properly -- which is the one
thing I want to do around here -- by league rules. My information
is we did everything by the letter of the law for the National
Football League, which matters to me first."

Tomlinson said he doesn't have an issue with anything the team
did that week or during the game.